Inquiry Physics Objectives

Links:

Content Standard III (State PASS Standard 1):
Forces and Motion

Topic:

6. Friction (local standard)
   Friction is a force resisting motion or attempted motion, and in solids is dependent on surface types, the force pressing the surfaces together, and whether the surfaces are in motion or not.

Time Range:
16 weeks for Standard III

Suggested Teaching Strategies:

• The core lab will bring out the essential components of the objective, but there will be discrepant data due to the complex nature of friction phenomena. Students may have trouble with surface area concepts, reflecting the confusion in science between apparent and actual contact area, etc.
• Expanding the concept to include coefficients of friction is optional, as is the inclusion of air drag.

Aligned Resources:

• Core Lab 7: Friction
  Inquiry Physics Investigation 8, Lab
• Inquiry Physics Investigation 8, including Reading: Is Friction a Drag? and worksheet
• Interactive Physics simulations: airdrag.ip, carcurve.ip, h20drag.ip, h20vio.ip
• Videotape: The Mechanical Universe - Friction

Revision Date:
December 2002